The Socially Conscious Holiday Giftguide

With the holiday season in full swing, most of us are struggling to find the perfect gifts for our loved ones. Online deals and box store discounts are clogging our inboxes and taking over our TVs. It can be hard to know where to start. So why not make the decision a little easier? Choose a gift that gives.

Luckily, there are many socially conscious companies and organizations that support causes that range from environmental sustainability to social action. Buying gifts from these retailers will help you give back to causes you care about, all while knocking items off your list.

Here are 7 gifts that can help you do just that. All of the sites listed have many more products that also support their chosen cause. So browse around to find gifts for all the people on your list.

• Roving Hills Neck Warmer ($42) This stylish loop scarf gives new meaning to the term “neck warmer.” The colorblocked scarf comes in a variety of colors, from bold to neutral, and it’s just one of many products in Echo Design’s Share the Warmth For each product bought by December 17, Echo Design will donate 2 (yes, 2!) similar products to one of three foster care programs. So help your family and foster children stay warm this winter, and check out Share the Warmth Campaign.
  
  
• Silk Ikat E-reader Cover  ($39) This beautiful silk e-reader is handcrafted in the traditional Cambodian ikat method by artisans from Rehab Craft Cambodia (RCC). RCC is a nonprofit that provides work opportunities to people with disabilities, including the many Cambodians that are injured from land mines left from the war. RCC provides all of the necessary training to their workers, and pays them living wages. Browse Ten Thousand Villages for thousands of other fair trade products from around the world. Each product description includes information about the artisans who make it.
  
  
• FEED Wood Wine Caddy  ($99) This rustic yet chic wine caddy is perfect for the wine lover in your life. For every caddy purchased, West Elm will give 47 meals to families in the U.S. who need them. You read that right: 47! If you want to provide meals to families in need but the wine caddy is not quite right for those on your list, don’t worry. West Elm has numerous products on its site that are part of the FEED partnership, from tote bags to cutting boards. Simply search “feed” in the site’s search bar, and shop away! The description of each product specifies how many meals will be bought with each purchase.
  
  
• Wild Guess ($55 donation) Wild Guess is perfect for the budding conservationist in your life. This educational game includes animal cards, a game board, an animal fact sheet, and a habitat map. The donation goes to World Wildlife Foundation, a conservation organization hard at work in over 100 counties to preserve the biodiversity found on our planet. Check out their Gift Center for gifts ranging from apparel to fine art, and help preserve nature for future generations.
  
  
• Himalayan Salt BBQ Plank ($29.99) Though it’s called a BBQ plank, this beautiful salt block can also be used to chill sushi, cook vegetables over a stovetop, or even present food with a unique and elegant twist. Uncommon Goods is a major source of unique gifts for all price ranges, and for each purchase, they donate $1 to your choice of one of the following charities: RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), American Forests, Women for Women International, or Reach Out & Read. All told, Uncommon Goods has raised over $400,000 for these worthy causes. Learn more about these organizations here.
• Cherry Wood Ear Buds with Mic ($42.49) Each set of ear buds are handcrafted from wood, so they are as appealing to the eyes as they are to the ears! Lstn was featured in our Father’s Day gift guide, but we love them so much, we’re including them in our holiday gift list as well. Lstn was started with a desire to change the world by helping to restore hearing in those who are hearing impaired. So far they have helped over 19,000 people in the U.S. and in countries around the world. Check out their Giving Back Amplified page to see pictures of those they have helped. Their smiles say it all.
  
  
• Adopt a Wild Animal ($39 & up) Let’s be honest: we all have more than we need. For those who have it all, adopt a wild animal from the Sierra Club for as little as $39. There are 17 different species up for “adoption,” ranging from sea otters to tarantulas to polar bears. Proceeds go towards protecting these species’ habitats and pushing legislation that helps these vulnerable animals. In thanks for your adoption, you receive a stuffed animal or puppet of your chosen species, a booklet with an adoption certificate and species facts, and a sticker. Shipping is free.

Buying from companies that support more than just their bottom line can help make this holiday season feel a little less materialistic. So find a company that supports a cause you care about, and feel good about all the gifts you give this year.

Happy holidays, from all of us at B.A.R.E Soaps!